Preparation of aromatic secondary and tertiary amines using a nickel complex catalyst

ABSTRACT

Aromatic amines are prepared by catalyzing the reaction between a mono- or dialkyl-amine and an aromatic halide with a nickel complex. Exemplary is the reaction of chlorobenzene and dimethylamine in the presence of tricarbonyl(triphenylphosphine)nickel to produce dimethylaniline.

United States Patent Coulson Oct. 21, 1975 [54] PREPARATION OF AROMATIC [51] Int. Cl. ..C07C 87/52; C07C 87/54; SECONDARY AND TERTIARY AMINES 7 7/5 76 7/64 USING A NICKEL COMPLEX CATALYST [58] Field of Search 260/578, 581 580, 577

[75] Inventor: Dale Robert Coulson, Wilmington,

Primary ExaminerLewis Gotts [73] Assignee: E. l. Du Pont de Nemours & Assistant Examiner-S. P. Williams Company, Wilm flgwfl, De Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Anth0ny P. Mentis [22] Filed: June 15, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 370,285 [57] ABSTRACT Aromatic amines are prepared by catalyzing the reaction between a monoor dialkyl-amine and an aro- [52] US. Cl. 260/577; 260/267; 260/269; matic halide with a nickel complex Exemplary is the 260/279 R; 260/293.5l; 260/293.67; 260/293.68; 260/293.69; 260/293.72; 260/296 R; 260/347.7; 260/326.8; 260/326.8l; 260/329 R; 260/329 AM; 260/576 reaction of chlorobcnzene and dimethylamine in the presence of tricarbonyl-(triphenylphosphine)nickel to produce dimethylaniline.

14 Claims, N0 Drawing Figures 1 PREPARATION OF AROMATIC SECONDARY AND TERTIARY AMINES USING A NICKEL COMPLEX CATALYST BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention I This invention relates to the preparation of aromatic secondary and aromatic tertiary amines. More specifi-- cally, it relates to a displacement process whereby aromatic halogen is displaced by a monohydrocarbylamino or preferably, a di(hydrocarbyl)amino group. The hydrocarbylamino compounds may be aliphatic or aromatic.

2. Prior Art The prior art discloses amination of chlorobenzene catalyzed by various reduced'metals and their salts. For example, A. M. Howald et al. [Ind. Eng. Chem. 15, 397 (1923)] teach the use of reduced nickel supported on pumice. The yields of aniline ranged from l5.8%.

W. Prahl et a1. (U.S. Pat. No. 2,001,284) disclose the use of copper phosphite, tungstate, phosphotungstate, phosphomolybdate and phosphovanadate as'catalysts and add that copper, nickel and iron salts of the Group V and VI metal oxides show similar activity.

E. C. Hughes et a1. [Ind. Eng. Chem. 42, 787 (1950)] report the production of N-methylaniline from chlorobenzene and methylamine to be catalyzed by various metal halides and oxides, such as cupric, silver, nickel, zinc, cadmium, chromium and cobalt chlorides.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It has now been found that an aromatic secondary or aromatic tertiary amine may be prepared by the process which comprises the step of contacting a. an aromatic halide of the formula ArX wherein Ar is an aromatic ring group containing 4-20 carbon atoms and such groups substituted with up to 2 annular O, N or S atoms, each ring having 5 or 6 atoms, X is chlorine, bromine or iodine; with b. an amino compound of the formula RR NH wherein R is H or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, except that it is not H where X is bromine or iodine; R is alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or aryl of 6-10 carbon atoms, with the proviso that R and R together can form a ring structure containing up to 8 carbon atoms and such ring structures containing an alkyl substituent of 1 to 4 carbon atoms;

c. in the presenceof a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst complex having a formula selected from the group wherein i L and L individually, are monodentate organic ligands selected from the group R 1, R P(OR), RP(OR) P( OR) R P(SR), RP(SR) P(SR) and when taken together are bidentate organic ligands selected from the group R P(CH ),,PR ,and cyclooctadiene;

m is zero or one;

R and R, individually, are selected from the group R P, R P(OR), RP(OR) P(OR)3. RQP(SR),RP(SR)Q, P(SR) Cl and Br; and when taken together are selected from the group R P(CH ),,PR cyclooctadiene, and acetylacetonate; each R is aryl of 6-10 carbons or alkyl of 1-4 carbons;

and n =1 to 3; and

nickel R catalyst ArX 2 RI ArN wherein Ar, X, R and R have the values stated above. The order of preference for X is chlorine, bromine, iodine.

Examples of Ar are groups obtained by removal of hydrogen from benzene, anthracene, phenanthrene, perylene, pyridine, furan, thiophene, phenanthridine, 1,5-phenanthroline, 1,8-phenanthroline, 4,5- phenanthroline, phenazine and the like. Compounds substituted in the meta and para positions are suitable if the substituents have 0,, constants in the range 0.80 to +0.78 and 0' in the range 0.80 to +0.71 [l-I. .Iaffe, Chem. Rev. 53,191 (1953)].

Examples of hydrocarbylamino compounds (RR NH) are methylamine, ethylamine, propylamine, butylamine, dimethylamine, diethylamine, dipropylamine, dibutylamine, pyrrolidine, piperidine, aniline and the toluidines, xylidines and naphthylamines. The preferred process is that where R is not H and the end product is an aromatic tertiary amine.

The reaction temperature is 25250C. with temperatures of 250C. being generally employed. A preferred range is -230C.

The time necessary for complete reaction can range up to 1 day but under optimum conditions the reaction is substantially complete in 4-6 hours.

The halogen displacement reaction uses 2 moles of amine to form the arylamine and the by-product amine hydrohalide. The amine may also be used as a recoverable solvent and when used in excess tends to speed up the reaction. A mole ratio of amine to aromatic halide of 2:1 to 10:1 is generally employed with a ratio of 5:1 to 10:1 being preferred. 7

Generally the amount of catalyst employed ranges from 0.2 to 1.0 mole percent, and preferably from 0.4-1.0 mole percent, based on the molar amount of aromatic halide to be aminated. Larger mole percentages of catalyst may be used.

The reaction is preferably carried out in excess of the amino compound as solvent. However, the lower alcohols, c.g.. ethanol and other alcohols containing up to 4 carbon atoms, ethcrs such as dicthyl ether, tctrahydrofuran, dioxane, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons containing up to 10 carbon atoms are also useful filtered. The hexane wet cake 'was then dried in a vacuum oven to give 990 g (85%) of the complex. m.p. 98-99 (reported 98.5) found to be 98% pure by IR analysis (see below). The remaining 2'71 was found to as solvents. Water can serve as a reaction medium, es- 5 b ki fl i h l h hi i k no) pecially if the aromatic halide is sufficiently soluble. The reaction may b Carried out in benzene as The catalysts used in the practice of this invention vent to give a 517,, yield f compkzxi 137L9 or are generally l The preparfmon of these in 1,5-cyclooctadiene as solvent to give an 81% yield of plexes are described in the followlng references: Complex mp. 9 (Found C 5619; H 3.58: Ni .1. R. Olechowski, J. Orgmet. Chem. 32. 269 (1971) 10 49 p 7 47 O55H45NiOmp3; C, 5 5 31 3 3 Carbonyltris(triphenyl phosphite)nickel Ni P 795%) Dlcarbonylblwnphenyl phosphltemlckel The individual phosphlne ligands, R P, include trie- C. A. Tolman 8t 81., .1. Am. Chem. SOC. 94, 2669 thWPhOSPhine tri n propylphosphine, (197.2) butylphosphine, tri-a-naphthylphosphine, and tri-p- Tr's(trl) henylPhSPhm)mQkeI tolylphosphine, in the foregoing nickel compounds. Menweather & Flene, Chem' Examples of suitable nickel complexes, with those 4 (195?) presently preferred denoted by an asterisk. are listed in Dlcarbonylbls(trlphenylphosphlne)nlckel m I TABLE I 1 L2 L3 L4 R3 R4 *Dl'carbonyHethylenebis(diphenyl CO CO (C5H5)1PCH2CH2P(CH5)2 (phosphine)]nickel *Tricarbonyl(triphenylphosphine)- CO CO CO (CGHQQP nickel *Dicarbonylbis(triphenylphosphine) nickel(ll) CO CO (C,;H -,):P (C l- MP Dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)- n k ltll) e ri):l s a)a Cl Cl Dibromobis(triphenylphosphine)- (CGHQSP (CST-1:93P Br Br nickelfll) Tris[tri(o-tolyl) phosphite] nickel (oCH C H O) -,P (O-CHJC8H40)3P (oOCH;C H O) P Br0m0tris(triphenylphosphine)- (C, H5);P (CBHOJP Br G S)J nickel (l) Tetraklis(ltriphenylphosphinc) (C6H5)3P (c 5)a a s):l 6 5);1

111C 5 *Tctracarbonylnickel CO CO CO CO *Tricarbonylhriphenyl phosphite nickel CO CO CO (C5H5O);P *Dicarbonylbis(tripheny1 phos- CO CO (CBH5O) -,P (CH5O);,P

phite nickel i *Dicarbonylbis(tricthyl ph0sphitc)- CO CO (C H O) P (C,H,O); P

nickel *carborlzylltrishriphenyl phosphite)- CO (C5H5O)3P (CsH5O): S 5

Tricarbonyl(triphenylphosphine)nickel Dicarbonylbis(triphenyl phosphite)nickel Dicarbonylbis(triethyl phosphite)nickel Tricarbonyl(triethyl phosphite)nickel Carbonyltris(triethyl phosphite)nickel Dicarbony1bis(tri-n-butylphosphine)nickel L. Malatesta & A. Sacco, Ann. Chim. (Rome) 44, 134

H. W. B. Reed, J. Chem. Soc. 1931 (-1934) M. Hidai et al. J. Orgmet. Chem. 30, 279 (1971) One method of preparing the nickel catalyst complexes is that shown in Olechowski, which shows the preparation of carbonyltris(triphenyl phosphite)nickel:

Into a clean, dry one-gallon autoclave was placed 257 g 1.0 mole) of anhydrous nickel acetylacetonate, 1000 ml of n-hexane, 1241 g (4.0 mole) of redistilled triphenyl phosphite and 1410 g (2.5 mole) of a solution of triethylaluminum in hexane. The temperature of the reactor was raised to 85 and 28 g (1.0 mole) of carbon monoxide was added. After the reaction was complete (2 hours), as evidenced by no residual pressure in the system, the contents were cooled to 0and the carbonyltris(triphenyl phosphite)-nickel was allowed to settle from the system over a period of 1 hour. The hexane was decanted and the residual complex was diphenylphosphinopropane)nickel.

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION The following are illustrative examples in which all parts or percentages are by weight and all temperatures are degrees centigrade unless otherwise stated.

EXAMPLE 1 A. A 8 -cc Hastelloy-C lined autoclave was charged with 11.26 g (100 mmoles) of chlorobenzene and 1.0 g (2.5 mmoles) of tricarbonyl(triphenylphosphine)- nickel. The autoclave was closed, cooled in Dry Ice- /acetone and evacuated to about 20 mm. The autoclave was connected to a source of dimethylamine and 17.0 g (380 mmoles) of the latter added to the autoclave. The autoclave and contents were heated to 230 for 6 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted to 25 ml with benzene and resultant solution analyzed by gas-liquid partition chromatography (glpc).

The glpc analysis was carried out on a 4 foot by 4 inch column packed with 20% Triton X-305 on Chromsorb W using helium as carrier gas at 75 cc/minute and operating at a column temperature of 200C. Comparison with standard solutions of dimethylaniline showed that the conversion of chlorobenzene to dimethylamiline was 30% of the theoretical.

B. A control experiment carried out as above, but omitting the tricarbonyl(triphenylphosphine)nickel, showed a conversion of chlorobenzene to dimethylaniline of only 0.25%.

C. Example 1-A was repeated and the reaction mixture fractionally distilled to obtain 4.79 g (39% conversion) of dimethylaniline boiling at 68-70.5C/9 mm. The dimethylaniline was further characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (nmr) and infrared (ir) spectroscopy.

EXAMPLE 2 The following experiments were carried out as in Example l-A except for substitution of the various nickel complexes for the tricarbonyl(triphenylphosphine)- nickel.

" COD cycloocladiene. (2) Dicarbonyllethylenebis(diphcnylphosphine)]nickcl.

EXAMPLE 3 The following experiments compare the catalytic activity of dicarbonyl[ethylenebis(diphenylphosphine)]- nickel with commonly employed nickel and cuprous chlorides at various temperatures and with dimethylamine and methylamine.

These reactions were carried out in 5 ml heavy walled glass ampoules. The ampoules were charged with the catalyst shown in the tables and a monohalobenzene. The ampoules were next connected to a vacuum line, chilled in liquid nitrogen, degassed, charged with the selected amine and sealed (liquid nitrogen temperature). Groups of ampoules so prepared were placed in a 400 cc autoclave with 200 ml of methanol or water to serve as a heat-transfer agent. The autoclave was closed and nitrogen added to 2000 psig to prevent rupture of the glass ampoules and heated at the temperatures shown in Table 111.

TABLE III Chlorohenzcne/ 71 Yield of Dimethylaminc Substituted "/1 Recovery 0.238 g/0.95 g Aniline Halobcnzcnc Complex g. Tcmp.

A None 200 0.2 83 B None 160 0.015 84 C NiCl 0.027 160 0.42 64 D (1) 0.084 160 3.0 85 E CuCl 0.0209 160 0.20 Chlorobenzene/Methylamine 0.238 g/0.655 g F None 200 0.05 96 G NiCl 0.027 200 2.7 91 H (1) 0.084 200 15.0 79 1 CuCl 0.0209 200 4.4 Bromobenzene/Dimethyluminc 0.332 g/0.95 g

J None 190 3.0 K NiCl 0.027 190 68.0 0.001 L (1) 0.084 190 84.0 0.00l M CuCl 0.0209 190 2.4 90 Bromohenzene/Methylamine 0.332 g/0.655 g N 0.16 99 O NiCl 0.027 170 0.47 99 P (1.) 0.084 170 1.5 93 Q CuCl 0.0209 170 81.0 0.32 10dobenzene/Dimethylamine 0.431 g/0.95 g

R None 5.2 97 S NiCl 0.027 190 12.0 0.2 T (1) 0.084 190 54.0 0.00l U CuCl 0.0209 190 4.2 87 lodobenzene/Methylamine 0.431 g/0.655 g V None 160 0.42 99 W NiCl 0.027 160 0.51 67 X (1) 0.084 160 3.9 86 Y CuCl 0.0209 160 97.0 4

(l) Dicarbonyllethylenebis(diphcnylphosphine)lnickcl.

EXAMPLE 4 Each of two 5 cc (total volumes within 1 1%) heavy walled ampoules was charged with 0.343 g (2.1 15 mmoles) of l-chloronaphthalene and one ampoule was also charged with 0.0102 g of dicarbonyl[ethylenebis(- diphenylphosphine)]nickel. Both ampoules were degassed in a vacuum line and 515 ml (0.95 g, 21.15 mmoles) of gaseous dimethylamine was condensed into each ampoule and the ampoule sealed. The above ampoules were placed in a 400 cc autoclave containing 200 cc of water to aid heat-transfer. The autoclave was closed and nitrogen added to 2000 psi to prevent rupture of the ampoules. The autoclave and contents were heated at 200C for 6 hours.

The autoclave was cooled, the ampoules removed, cooled to about 100C in liquid nitrogen and opened. The dimethylamine was allowed to evaporate and the resultant reaction mixture diluted with 1.00 ml of a standard solution of two molar bromobenzene in hexane. The diluted reaction mixtures were analyzed (glpc).

The product from the experimental ampoule showed that 26.5% conversion of l-chloronaphthalene to 1- dimethylaminonaphthalene had occured and that 64% of the l-chloronaphthalene was recovered. The material from the control ampoulc showed 0.67% conversion to l-dimcthyluminonaphthalcnc and 94% recovery of the l-chloronaphthalenc.

v 8 prepared as in Example 4 and heated at 200C for 6 hours. Analysis by glpc showed the following results in Table V.

TABLE V A B C D E F G chlorobenzene (g) 0.239 o-Chlorotoluene (g) 0.268 m-Chlorotoluene (g) 0.268 p-Chlorotoluene (g) 0.268

p-Chloroanisolc (g) 0.305 *p-Dichlorobenzenc (g) 310 4-Chlorobiphenyl (g) 0.398

Dicarbonyl[ethylenebis(di phenylphosphine)lnickel (g) 0.0102 0.0102 0.0102 0.0102 0.0102 0 0102 0.0102 Dimethylamine (g) 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.95 1 "Conversion (72) 24.0 0.10 31.0 20.0 9.3 58.0 41.0

The identities of the substituted dimethylanilines were confirmed by glpc and mass spectra analysis.

In this reaction the formation of p-bis(dimelhylamino)benzene (0.08 mmole) was also observed. This substance was analyzed by glpc/mass spectra and found to have the correct mass number. "Control experiments employing no catalyst gave negligible conversions.

EXAMPLE 5 The effect of solvents on the amination is illustrated by the following experiments. Thick walled glass ampoules were charged as follows:

After having been heated at 200C for 6 hours, the reaction mixtures were analyzed as in Example 4; the conversions to dimethylaniline and chlorobenzene recovery were:

Conversion to Dimethylaniline Recovery of (70) Chlorobenzene A 0.20 99 B 21.50 77 C 0.43 99 D 40.00 57 EXAMPLE 6 The invention is further illustrated by the following examples in which the monohalohydrocarbon is replaced by a substituted chlorobenzene. Ampoules were nickc1(ll) EXAMPLE 7 The applicability of this invention to cyclic secondary amines is shown by the reaction with piperidine. The reactions were carried out in heavy walled glass ampoules as described in Example 4. This experiment also shows the superiority of one of the most preferred catalysts. The ampoules were charged as follows:

GRAMS Pipcridine 1.59 1.59 Bromobenzenc 0.294 0.293

Bis(2,4-pcntancdionato) 0.0048 Dicarbonyl[cthylcncbishli phenylphosphineflnickel 0.0096

40 The ampoules were chilled, degassed and sealed as in Example 4. The sealed ampoules were heated in an oil bath at 160C for 4 hours. The ampoules were cooled to room temperature, opened, and the contents diluted with 50m of p-chloroanisole to serve as an internal glpc standard. The glpc analysis showed that A reaction gave 0.5% conversion to N-phenylpiperidine, while B reaction gave almost 82% conversion of bromobenzene to N-phenylpiperidine.

EXAMPLE 8 The procedure of Example 4 was followed in carrying out the following experiments at 200C for 6 hours. The data are given in Table VI.

TABLE VI GRAMS chlorobenzene 0.239 0.239 0.239 Bromobenzene 0.328 0.328 0.328 Ethylamine 0.955 0.955 0.955 0.955 0.955 0.955 "Nicl, 0.0027 *NiBr, 0.0046 Dicarbonyl[ethylenebis(diphenylphosphine)]nickel 0.0108 O 0108 Conversion to N-ethylaniline 0.05 0.12 4.11 0.19 0.9 14.6 Recovery of halobenzene 97.0 97.0 84.0 ca 98.0

Prior art catalyst EXAMPLE9 The following experiments were carried out as in Example 4. The reactions were effected at 230C for 6 EXAMPLE 12 Demonstration that haloheterocyclic aromatic compounds undergo the reaction of this invention is in the hoursfollowing experiments. Heavy walled glass ampoules TABLE VI] GRAMS 1 2 3 4 5 6 Chlorobenzene 0.239 0.239 0.239 Bromobcnzenc 0.328 0.328 0.328 Aniline 1.96 1.96 1.96 1.96 1.96 1.96 0.0027 *NiBrg 0.0086 Dicarbonyl[bis(d| phosphino )ethane nickel 0.0108 0 0108 Conversion to diphenylamine (722) V v 0.12 3.8 9.0 2.9 13.6 31 3 Recovery of halobenzene 96.0 96.0 99.0 97.0 90.0 81.0

Prior art catalyst indicates a high value due to faulty glpc analysis.

EXAMPLE 10. were charged with the components listed, the mixture degassed and treated essentially as in Example 4. The The following experiments were carried out at 170C following compositions were heated at 150C for 6 for 6 hours and-followed the procedure of Example 4. hours and the products analyzed by glpc.

i i TABLE V111 GRAMS 1 2 3 5 6 Bromobenzene 0.328 0.328 0.328 0.328 0.328 0.328 Dimethylamine 0.955 0.955 0.955 0.955 0.955 0.955 DicarbonylIethylene-bis- (diphenylphosphine)lnickel 0.001 1 0.0022 0.0044 0.0077 0.0109 Conversion to dimethyL aniline 1.42 56.5 78.0 91.0 94.0 93.0 Recovery of bromobenzene (70) 95.0 35.0 13.0 0.5 0.5 0.5

EXAMPLE 11 TABLE X This set of experiments, carried out as in Example 4, A B shows therelative efficacies of several of the preferred catalysts. Each ampoule was charged with 0.239 g of l h l f(1; (g-g2; gig;

- l imet yamine g) chlorobenzene, 0.955 g of drmethylamme and the Dicarbonylmhylenchis weight of catalyst shown below. The ampoules and con- 40 (diphenylphosphine)] tents were heated at 170C for 6 hours. nickel (g) 0.0155 I Ethanol (ml) 1.2 1.2 Product TABLE (1) Dimethylamine *2170 *2042 I (2) 3-Chloropyridinc 992 *1024 (3) 3-Dimethylamino- Conversion to Recovery of pyridine 82 0 Dimethyl- Chloroben- Catalyst aniline ((7!) zone (07) Absolute peak areas by glpc. This is a qualitative measure and shows that none 9 of product (3) was produced in the absence of the nickel (0) catalyst whereas Dicarbonyl bisabout 10% of product (3) was produced when the nickcltU) catalyst was present. (triphenylphosphine)nickel EXAMPLE 13 (0.0135) 24.0 71 Dicarbonyl This set of experiments shows the minor effect of arr gflthyllenelbiqs when the reaction is cocatalyzed by the nickel complex en 05- ph i enri i kel as compared with the cuprous chloride reaction. The 0.0108 15.0 61 5 reaction mixtures in sealed glass ampoules were heated Carbonyl tris 5 o (lricthylphos at 200 for 6 hours. phine)nickel TABLE XI (0.0074) 22.0 72 Dicarbonyl bis (triphenyl phos- A B C D phite)nickel (0 0155) 26.0 ,6 Chlorobenzene(mg) 237 237 237 237 b Mcthylamine(mg) 650 650 650 650 liga z' i l Air(mmole) 0.025 0.025

. Dicarhonylhis(triphrte)n1ckel' (0 0155) 6 7 86 phcnylphosphlne) l nickel (mg) 13.5 13.5 Cdfbcmy ms *Cuprous chloride (tnphenyl phos- (mg) 2.] phite)nickel a. Conversion to (0.0218) 4- 38 N-methylaniline 9.1; 4.2 7.1 7.6 Tetracarhonyl- Recovery of nickel (0.0036) 15.0 6l chlorohenzenc 82 83 81 EXAMPLE 14 The following experiments show the advantageous effect of air on the dimethylamination of chlorobenzene. These were carried out by the general procedure of Example 4 and the mixtures were heated at 190 for 6 hours.

This example shows that the amination of bromobenzene occurs, even though slowly, at room temperature. A solution containing 1.86 g of piperidine, 0.197 g of bromobenzene and 0.12 g of dicarbonylbis(triphenylphosphine)-nickel was allowed to stand at 24-26 for 17 days along with a control that contained no catalyst. Analysis showed that the catalyzed reaction occurred to the extent of 0.45% conversion and the control gave practically no evidence O.l% conversion) of reactlon.

EXAMPLE 16 The following reaction mixtures were heated at 230 for 6 hours.

GRAMS The products were characterized by glpc and mass spectral analyses.

I claim:

1. The process of preparing an aromatic secondary or aromatic tertiary amine which comprises the step of contacting a. an aromatic halide of the formula ArX wherein Ar is an aromatic ring group containing 4-20 carbon atoms and such groups substituted with up to 2 annular O, N or S atoms, each ring having or 6 atoms,

X is chlorine, bromine or iodine; with b. an amino compound of the formula RR NH wherein R is H or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, except that it is not H where X is bromine or iodine;

R is alkyl of l to 4 carbon atoms or aryl of 6-10 carbon atoms, with the proviso that R and R together can form a ring structure containing up to 8 carbon atoms and such ring structures containing an alkyl substituent of l to 4 carbon atoms;

0. in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst complex having a formula selected from the group wherein L and L individually, are monodentate organic ligands selected from the group -R P, iR P(OR), RP(OR) P(OR);;, R P(SR), RP(SR.) P(SR) and when taken together are bidentate organic ligands selected from the group R 'P(CH '),,PR and cyclooctadiene;

miszeroorl;

R and R, individually,-are selected from the group R P, R P(OR), RP(OR) P(OR) R P(SR), RP(SR) P(SR) Cl and Br; and when taken together are selected from the group R P(CH ),,PR cyclooctadiene and acetylacetonate; each R is aryl of 6-10 carbons or alkyl of 1-4 carbons;

and n =1 to 3; and

wherein L, L L and L have the values recited above for L and L and additionally may each be CO, with the proviso that at least one L is CO;

at a temperature range of 25250C, using an. amine to aromatic halide mole ratio of 2:1 to 10:1, and recovering an aromatic secondary or aromatic tertiary amine.

2. A process according to claim 1 in which the catalyst complex has the formula 1.

3. A process according to claim 1 in which the catalyst complex has the formula II.

4. The process of claim 3 in which X is chlorine or bromine, R is other than H, and an aromatic tertiary amine is recovered.

5. The process of claim 3 in which the temperature range is -250C.

6. The process of claim 3 in which the temperatur range is -230C.

7."The process of claim 3 in which the mole ratio of amine to aromatic halide is 5:1 to 10:1.

8. The process of claim 3 in which the reactants are chlorobenzene and dimethylamine.

9. The process of claim 3 in which the reactants are chlorobenzene and diethylamine. 7

10. The process of claim 3 in which the catalyst complex is dicarbonylnickel. I

1 l. The process of claim 3 in which the catalyst complex is tricarbonyl(triphenylphosphine)nickel.

12. The process of claim 3 in which the catalyst complex is dicarbonylbis(triphenylphosphine)nickel.

13. The process of claim 3 in which the catalyst com plex is tetracarbonylnickel.

14. The process of claim 3 in which the catalyst complex is dicarbonylbis(tri'phenyl phosphite)nickel.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE @ETIFICATE OF CORRECTEQ PATENT-NO. ,311

DATED October 21, 1975 iNvENTOR(S) Dale Robert Coulson It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 10, line 2 "dicarbonylnickel" should be dicarbonyl[ethylenebis(diphenylphosphine)] nickel.

Signed and ris Twentieth D8) 0? July 1976 [SEAL] Attest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commixsr'uner 01' Parents and Trademarks 

1. THE PROCESS OF PREPARING AN AROMATIC SECONDARY OR AROMATIC TERITARY AMINE WHICH COMPRISES THE STEP OF CONTACTING A. AN ATOMATIC HALIDE OF THE FORMULA ARX WHEREIN AR IS ATOMATIC RING GROUP CONTAINING 4-20 CARBON ATOMS AND SUCH GROUPS SUBSTITUTED WITH UP TO 2 ANNYLAR 0, N OR A ATOMS, EACH RING HAVING 5 TO 6 ATOMS, X IS CHLORINE BROMAINE OR IODINE, WITH B. AN AMINO COMPOUND OF THEFORMULA OF THE FORMULA R1R2NH WHEREIN R1 IS H OR ALKYL OF 1 TO 4 CARBON ATOMS, EXCEPT THAT IS NOT H WHERE X IS BROMINE OR IDOINE, R2 IS ALKYL OF 1 TO 4 CARBON ATOMS OR ARY OF 6-10 CARBON ATOMS, WITH THE PROISO THAT T1 AND R2 TOGETHER CAN FORM A RING STRUCTURE CONTAINING UP TO 8 ARBON ATOMS AND SUCH RING STRUCTURE CONTAINING AN ALKYL SUBSTITUENT OF 1 TO 4 CARBON ATOMS, C. IN THE PRESENCE OF A CATALYTICALLY AMOUNT OF A CATALYST COMPLEX HAVING A FORMULA SELECTED FROM THE GROUP
 2. A process according to claim 1 in which the catalyst complex has the formula I.
 3. A process according to claim 1 in which the catalyst complex has the formula II.
 4. The process of claim 3 in which X is chlorine or bromine, R1 is other than H, and an aromatic tertiary amine is recovered.
 5. The process of claim 3 in which the temperature range is 100*-250*C.
 6. The process of claim 3 in which the temperature range is 190*-230*C.
 7. The process of claim 3 in which the mole ratio of amine to aromatic halide is 5:1 to 10:1.
 8. The process of claim 3 in which the reactants are chlorobenzene and dimethylamine.
 9. The process of claim 3 in which the reactants are chlorobenzene and diethylamine.
 10. The process of claim 3 in which the catalyst complex is dicarbonylnickel.
 11. The process of claim 3 in which the catalyst complex is tricarbonyl(triphenylphosphine)nickel.
 12. The process of claim 3 in which the catalyst complex is dicarbonylbis(triphenylphosphine)nickel.
 13. The process of claim 3 in which the catalyst complex is tetracarbonylnickel.
 14. The process of claim 3 in which the catalyst complex is dicarbonylbis(triphenyl phosphite)nickel. 